Health DG refutes claim a kid in Kedah tested positive for Covid-19

CORONAVIRUS | Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has refuted a viral Facebook post which claimed that a kid in Kedah contracted Covid-19 from a relative who returned from Negeri Sembilan.

"What was shared on Facebook is not true.

"We have no such reported cases but we are actively doing test screening," Noor Hisham said in a media conference today.

Earlier, the Kedah Health Department had issued a statement on the matter which allegedly took place in Kampung Huma, Padang Hang.

It said the department had conducted swab tests on close contacts made up of family and relatives of the kid. They are all currently under home quarantine until the test results are obtained.

The statement also mentioned a Covid-19 positive case on June 13 involving a tahfiz student who came from Negri Sembilan to visit his grandmother in Alor Janggus, Alor Setar.

The student is currently placed in an isolation ward at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar.

For those under home quarantine, Noor Hisham (photo) advised them to notify the Health Ministry if they fell sick or showed certain symptoms.

"Within the 14-day quarantine period, if they show symptoms, they can call us and we will do the testing, it's not necessary to call us on the 13th day," he said.

Noor Hisham also reminded that although the country is under the recovery movement control order (MCO), the government will enforce the enhanced MCO in certain areas if there's an outbreak. 

He added that the country is still strengthening the border despite the recovery MCO to contain the Covid-19 outbreak among the locals.

Meanwhile, on the smoking ban, Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry has never reduced the monitoring against those who try to violate the rule at certain premises where smoking is not allowed.

"What the ministry needs is cooperation from the public as well as restaurant owners to ensure that their customers don't smoke in the restaurant," he said.

 - Mkini